Friday 11th December - Tomorrow
Candlelight vigil
from 9 to 10pm by the Christmas tree in Garden Place.
We want to add our voices to the world-wide bottom-up pressure that has persuaded Obama and other world leaders to go to Copenhagen.
Bring your own candle.
Flora of Aotearoa/New Zealand course (Biol226C-10)
5 - 19 February 2010 at the University of Waikato
Places are still available.
No prerequisites required, just a keen interest to learn more about plant identification and New Zealand's amazing flora!
This popular second year paper is for anyone keen to learn how to identify plants and about the origin's of New Zealand's unique flora. This course provides an introduction to field identification, philosophy and techniques of plant systematics focusing on endemic New Zealand plants. Skills include field identification of plants and knowledge of plant families, genera and species representative of the New Zealand flora. This intensive two week course starts with a field trip to Pureora Forest Park. The next two weeks are spent in lecture, labs, and two more day trips. Students then complete an independent project.
Contact Chrissen Gemmill gemmill@waikato.ac.nz for further information.
TWO SUBMISSIONS
and comments sought - something to do over Christmas!
1. RLTS
The Waikato Regional Transport Committee (RTC) is currently reviewing the Waikato Regional Land Transport Strategy (RLTS). The RTC has prepared a Regional Outcomes and Challenges Discussion Document which provides an early opportunity for regional stakeholders to engage with the RTC in its review of the RLTS.
The Discussion Document outlines the RTC’s proposed vision and outcomes for the region, and presents the existing and emerging challenges for transport in the Waikato region out to 2040.
The Full Discussion Document and a Summary Document, together with a feedback form can be downloaded from the EW website http://www.ew.govt.nz/Policy-and-plans/Regional-Land-Transport-Strategy/Review-of-the-Waikato-Regional-Land-Transport-Strategy/
Should you require a hard copy please contact Maelene Brake at maelene.brake@ew.govt.nz
The Discussion Document includes a number of key questions that the RTC would like your feedback on. General comments and feedback on other aspects of this document or the RLTS review are also welcome.
Feedback, preferably on the Feedback Form, can be provided in a number of ways. Emailed to rlts@ew.govt.nz
Posted to: RLTS Feedback, Environment Waikato, Box 4010 Hamilton East 3247
The closing date for receiving feedback is 5pm on 22nd January 2010. Your feedback will be most appreciated and will be used to inform the next stage of the RLTS review.
If you have any queries please contact
Bill McMaster
Programme Manager Transport Policy
Environment Waikato Email bill.mcmaster@ew.govt.nz;
Phone 07 8590815
2. Hamilton District Plan
Deadline for submissions 28 February - fill in the form online
Consultation on a new Hamilton District Plan begins this week with the release of the District Plan review’s first public discussion document. The District Plan affects all Hamilton residents as it sets out the rules and policies for how people can develop and use land in the city.
The Discussion Document is aimed at identifying the most significant resource management issues for the city which will eventually be addressed by the District Plan. It is stage one of Council’s two-year review of Hamilton’s District Plan, named Fast Forward.
"Based on Council's experience, the Discussion Document sets out what Council believes are the most significant resource management issues for Hamilton. It is a starting point for working with the community to identify what they think requires attention as part of the District Plan review."
Those key issues include:
* Residential intensification
* City Heart vitality
* Economic development
* Character and heritage
* Social well-being and recreation
* Transportation and accessibility
* Environmental sustainability
* The river
* Hamilton City Development Manual
Included in the Discussion Document is a short series of questions designed to encourage comment from members of the public. People who wish to make comment can do so using the form at the rear of the document or online at www.fastforwardhamilton.co.nz .
The deadline for comments is 28 February 2010.
View online: http://www.hamilton.co.nz/news/pageid/2145848092
More information: www.fastforwardhamilton.co.nz
POSITIONS AVAILABLE
Conservation Volunteers NZ (Hamilton) Please note that the closing date for one of the positions will be 20 December.
The positions available are:
1) Project Support Officer ($42,680) - available from 4 January (negotiable): the closing date for this application is 20 December 2009, Sunday.
2) Team Leader ($40,196) – available from mid-late January (negotiable): the closing date for this application is 17 January 2010, Sunday.
Please see the attached position descriptions for more details. For both positions, applications are to be received at employment@cva.org.au (Attention to Kathie Surridge)
Full NZ driving license and passion for the environment are essential. CVNZ’s mission is ‘to attract and lead a force of volunteers in practical conservation projects for the betterment of the environment’. If you would like to learn more about CVNZ, please visit our website below. If you have any enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact me.
SURVEY - Help wanted
Basman Mazahrih is a PhD student at the University of Waikato researching the topic ‘Incorporating environmental issues into banks’ lending decisions: policies, procedures and practices’.
He is seeking help with his research and needs a survey filled by peolpe in the environmental sector.If you can help and have not already done this please find the survey attached.
About the survey:
This topic can be easily understood from the following examples:
a) Assume a chemical company seeks a loan from a bank, but the company’s activities may have an adverse effect on the environment. Should the bank lend the money or ask the company to take the necessary steps to reduce the environmental impact?
b) Suppose a start up company seeks a loan from a bank to buy environmentally friendly technology; for example, to buy machines that have potentially high environmental benefit, such as, for recycling, windfarming, renewable resources. Should the bank give automatic status and priority to this company?
I believe this research will ultimately benefit New Zealand banks, the wider community and New Zealand environment.
Participants are requested to express their personal views in response to the survey questionnaire rather than those of their organization or business.
The survey contains two categories of questions. Four questions give you the opportunity to indicate your personal views. Other questions are socio-demographic, which we will use to help analyse the responses.
Please do not hesitate to contact me on the following address:
Basman Mazahrih, PhD student
Department of Finance, Waikato Management School, the University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton
Email: bjsm1@students.waikato.ac.nz
Telephone: 07/858 5090; Mobile: 021 1283 701
